Pakistan capable of responding to Indian actions: Defence minister

Published October 9, 2014
Defence Minster Khawaja Asif. — File photo
Defence Minster Khawaja Asif. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's defence minister said on Thursday that the country is capable of responding “befittingly” to Indian actions on the border after several days of clashes in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

“We do not want the situation on the borders of two nuclear neighbours to escalate into confrontation,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement. “India must demonstrate caution and behave with responsibility.”

Defence minister's reaction comes against the backdrop of an earlier statement by his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley where he 'warned' Pakistan to stop shelling in the disputed region.

Also read: India's defence minister warns Pakistan over LoC skirmish

“If Pakistan persists with this adventurism, our forces will make cost of this adventurism unaffordable for it,” Arun Jaitley had told journalists in New Delhi. “Pakistan should stop this unprovoked firing and shelling if it wants peace on the border.”

At least two Pakistanis were killed in latest firing by Indian troops along the working boundary between India and Pakistan, raising the death toll to 12 and injured to 43.

The situation along the India-Pakistan working boundary is still volatile as a heavy exchange of fire continues.

Military sources say that Pakistani troops are responding to the unprovoked Indian firing and are only targeting military positions and not civilian areas as claimed by the Indian military.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...